> -----Original Message----- > From: John Posada > > ... OTJ experience without certification could be 10 years of > creating four-page inserts for toasters. I'm not demeaning that > kind of writing, but would you want that writer to come to your > shop and take over a long-term enterprise software project and > staff of 10 where your company has millions of dollars at > stake? >
No, but you'd know that from their resume and writing samples. > What the certification tells you in this instance is that the > person has a familiarity with most of the needed requirements > to which that person will be exposed. > What the certification tells you in this instance is nothing of value. Someone who's spent 10 years of creating four-page inserts for toasters -- and yet has certification for a totally different kind of work -- is a little suspicious, to say the least. > I'd never claim that you couldn't be a very good technical > writer and not be certified. A certification would only be of > use in a narrow range of applications. In fact, you probably > wouldn't want a staff writer to be certified because you know > that person doesn't want to crank out documentation day after > day, just as someone with a CPA designation is not going to be > happy processing A/P invoices day after day. Certification is > for the writer who wants to be brought into an environment > that requires a wide range of skills. > A writer who wants to be brought into an environment that requires a wide range of skills had better have the resume, the writing samples, the successful interviews with your SMEs, *and* the references -- or else expect to get entry-level pay and benefits. Man, I have *got* to go buy that garlic... -- Dan Goldstein This message contains confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading, disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify us, by replying to the sender, and delete the original message immediately thereafter. Thank you. ______________________________________________ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
